Help with cleaning lower intake manifold

[felix1989]

Hello, I am new here but I am hoping you all can help me, I have a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe LT 4x4 4-door with the 5.7 liter Vortec small block with 203,*** miles. I am currently replacing the intake manifold gaskets after a massive failure of the originals that it had, both were completely gone around the front water passages, which put all the coolant into the oil and circulated it through the intake as far back as the air filter. In any case I have the intake removed now and sitting int my garage with 15 years of carbon build up and oil and coolant milkshake all over it, I have the upper composite manifold removed and have cleaned it well, along with cleaning the sludge and milkshake out of the valve covers, but I am unsure of how to clean the aluminum lower intake without removing the fuel injection spider assembly. As the engine has not been apart before the spider assembly is original and thus has 203,*** miles and 15 years worth of wear on it and I cannot afford to replace it. Most sources I have read say not to mess with it or it will break, but I have to get the carbon and oil/coolant goo out of the intake and away from the spider assembly itself, so is there anyway to clean the aluminum of all the gunge without removing or harming the spider assembly?

Thank you,
Scott

 

[ezdaar]

Berrymans B-12 in spray can. buy a couple can as it is high pressure and will be used up fast.

It will with out a doubt remove ALL grease, gunk, carbon and leave a clean intake.
WEAR SAFETY GLASSES! this shit will ruin your day if it gets in your eyes!

It will remove paint, aswell. so be aware of what you hose down with it.
This is the Only cleaner I use. Its by far the best!

If you get crafty. you can lightly spray your ports, once it evaporates vacuum out the dried up and loose carbon flakes.

This stuff is addicting, you will be blasting everything with it once you realize how effective it is.

 

[felix1989]

And that will be safe to use around the plastic hoses of the injection spider? I may post a picture of the intake later to ensure it would work for the level of gunge on it, though I am unable to do so now

 

[ezdaar]

wont say yea its safe, because.. well shit happens.. But I use it on absolutely everything along with all of my mechanic buddies.
Ive blasted multiple cans of the stuff down throats of engines for years with no problems.
Both while running and stopped.

It will say on back of can what it can and cannot be used on.

 

[felix1989]

OK, well while I am here asking questions I suppose I should probably ask if there is any recommendations for getting the oil/coolant sludge out of the cylinder heads and lifter valley in the block

 

[ezdaar]

I used LOTS of B-12, a big spoon, paint scraper, shop VAC and air compressor multiple times.
One of the engines I cleaned was so gunked up. you couldn't see the lifter retainer plate that bolts down in the valley.

Cover EVERYTHING! you don't want oily mess on with garbage bags or tarps. even the roof! the stuff will splatter everywhere!
Remove oil drain plug or oil pan, if you can. All the gunk that B-12 loosens will run right out into your drain pan. It is highly recommended to remove oil pan as the gunk will try to clog your oil pump
Loosen up the gunk with B-12 and suck the bulk of it out with shop vac. yes it will absolutely ruin the shop vac, but its nothing a good soaking in Dawn dishwashing soap wont fix.
Be sure to shove a Long screwdriver down the oil drains at front and rear of the heads down into the block if they are clogged up with sludge. they are big arse holes.


This is a very messy procedure, be ready be covered in oil, dirt and gunk!

I have seen other ppl fill the engine with var-sol and diesel in the past. let it soak over a cpl days and drain.. Dont know how well it works tho. as these guys are complete idiots and will do just about anything to a engine.

 

[autolover3]

I just used degreaser and hot pressure washer for upper manifold.

Lower I soaked in a barrel of carb cleaner, and than ran through a parts washer and dried it.

Except I removed spider assembly... :/ and have access to parts washer and such since I'm in school